The most expensive variants in the new Octavia family are called RS in most countries but due to Ford of Britain having the rights to those initials, vRS here.
No more L&K?
Go deeper with GlobalData
More than a model grade and less than a sub-brand, Škoda’s designation for its faster cars has replaced L&K as the priciest spec for the brand’s second largest hatchback and estate.
Laurin & Klement isn’t available in the home market (I czeched) either but it might return later in the model’s life cycle. You can still buy a Superb L&K at least, so the founders’ names haven’t been dropped.
Ever bigger
On the topic of size, let’s agree if we can that this vehicle is in the Passat class. I’ve never comprehended how some data crunchers and even the company itself could classify the Octavia as Focus/Golf-sized. Perhaps because twenty five years ago the first one of the Volkswagen era shared a platform with the Golf IV? Yet even that car was lengthier than the equivalent VW.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataOctavias continue to grow with each new generation. The one that’s just been replaced was 4,659 mm long, which was 90 mm more than the prior model. Production commenced in December 2012 and it’s still being made in China as a cheaper alternative to the latest hatchback.
Two global hatchbacks
The new shape is stretched for the PRC and that means it also has a special name: (SAIC Volkswagen’s) Octavia Pro. At 2,730 mm, the wheelbase is even more generous than the 2,686 of our hatchback, estate and Scout. Oh, and in Britain the elevated estate is only available as a special order for police forces.
At 4,689 mm, the estate/Combi call it what you will, and the Scout are longer (by 22 mm) and so too is the hatchback (19 mm) than the cars launched in Britain back in 2013. And the Pro? It’s got another 64 mm compared to the rest of the world’s five-door. The rear space must be epic as opening a standard car’s back door makes you wonder how other brands’ vehicles fail to have the same generosity of leg room. In fact, you could say that about pretty much any Škoda.
Sports Vs. Luxury
Boot volumes are respectively 640 and 600 litres, continuing the tradition for astonishingly capacious luggage compartments in every generation of the model. The hatchback I have just handed back to the UK press office even had a (space saver) spare tyre – that’s worthy of a mention when this essential item is ridiculously rare. Then when I examined the spec sheet, it turned out to be an option (cost: GBP185.00).
The new Octavia being as expansive inside and out as it is, the obvious question becomes why Škoda would choose to threaten the Superb. Except that isn’t really what’s going on, the larger model being 4,860 mm from end to end, so 201 mm more than its ‘little’ brother or sister.
The Octavia also remains fair and away the leader in its size class, 45,256 in Q1 being the sales total for what Acea and JATO define as Europe, while the Superb’s equivalent in the E segmen was 14,566. Not bad for a six-year old car and also not too far shy of the Mercedes E-Class (18,531: segment No.1) and BMW 5 Series (15,733). Incidentally, it’s a shame that so few people buy the most beautiful alternative in the 4.9-5.1 m category, VW’s Arteon (4,315) fastback and S.B.
My suspicion is that Škoda Auto wants us to increasingly think of the Superb as a luxury model. L&K being available for the bigger car but not vRS adds evidence for that, and the reverse applies to the Octavia. Is the latter inherently sportier then? That depends. Let me explain.
TSI, iV or TDI
For the first time, a vRS can have one of three engines. All are FWD with the diesel alone available with AWD at extra cost, which it needs considering the torque output of 400 Nm. It’s also the one I’ve been driving. Power is 147 kW or 200 PS.
One of a pair of petrol alternatives to the 2.0 TDI is the vRS 2.0 TSI. This has a six-speed manual gearbox with a seven-speed DSG optional, something that’s standard for both FWD and AWD diesels.
The third choice is called vRS iV. Those letters signify the brand’s electric or electrified cars. Here, they’re used to denote a plug-in hybrid. The powertrain is well known from other Volkswagen Group vehicles: 1.4-litres, four cylinders and a single motor.
Why the TDI is best
The PHEV will likely be ideal for many Octavia vRS buyers and yet I’d say the diesel is hard to beat. One of its best features is 4×4 drive. Whatever the driver throws at it, the TDI can take it. All that torque is especially enjoyable when it’s doing the opposite of being spun away by overburdened front tyres. Grip and balance are the name of the game with the TDI 4×4.
Body roll is well taken care of and the suspension beautifully tuned. Up to the high standard of the previous generation Octavia vRS? Yes, and beyond. The engine even has a throaty sound when placed in the sportiest chassis setting. Not as addictive as last week’s S5 TDI to be sure but also twenty thousand pounds cheaper.
Škoda probably has to conform to a Volkswagen directive of making Lane Assist, AKA unwelcome anxious-wobbly steering intrusion, the default. At least in the Octavia it’s quick and easy to switch off. Two presses of buttons close to the top-right quadrant of the steering wheel and you’re done, albeit every time the car is restarted. Not like in an ID.3 or 4 where you wait, wait, wait until the infotainment system makes all functions available…then tap tap tap on screen menus.
Upscale interior (with some reservations)
Most of the interior is thoughtfully designed. Typical Skoda touches include starting and stopping the car with a button sited where an ignition key used to go in older vehicles. Just below this is a handy tilt-hinged compartment for storing small items.
The Volkswagen Group’s infatuation with touchscreens for almost everything continues in the Octavia. For safety’s sake you do get certain easily activated switches for essentials such as defrosting the front and rear screens.
And now a final minor moan. Is it perhaps something which Wolfsburg HQ insists upon to keep the brand from Mladá Boleslav positioned below VW? How else to explain this newly launched GBP30,000+ car having no reversing camera? Yes really: this top-spec car has the old fashioned beeps and coloured lines.
The vents feel good to the touch, as do the switches for windows and parking brake plus there is a nicely weighted padded armrest/cubby box cover. Volkswagen Group vehicles used to excel at these sorts of things but I keep noticing that they’re being quietly removed. Competitors are already exploiting this. Was I alone in thinking how times have changed when the interior of a new Hyundai looks way better than that of the rival and also just announced VW Multivan?
Back to the Octavia though, which is mostly all good on the inside. Bonus points for an attractive chrome-look toggle to select R, N or D/S. This has a precise action and a satisfying click, the same applying to the separate P button. A small 4×4 badge behind the symbol for Park is also the only identification for the AWD TDI. I should add that the 4×4 is a separately priced variant, not just an option to be ticked.
Hello Brolly
The list of more things to appreciate includes the brand’s signature umbrella in the driver’s door and other more subtle ones such as the picture of the car which appears as the infotainment system is firing up. Rather than being a generic Octavia hatchback, it has vRS details such as the wheels and gloss-black grille. A small point but one which makes you believe that extra effort was put in for this top-end version.
Does thirty thousand pounds sound like a lot for a Škoda Octavia? I don’t think so. In fact with half a dozen options this can quickly become a thirty five thousand pound (or more) car. The vRS TDI 4×4 is a lot of vehicle for the money. It’s got sexy looks too, including the right balance of sports-intent with family car sensibility…abilities.
Sum-up
Just how good it this car? I believe there’s only one other vehicle in the size class which can beat the vRS diesel hatchback: anyone who needs even more space and perhaps even better looks should choose…the estate.
Pricing for the Škoda Octavia vRs hatchback 2.0 TDI 4×4 starts at GBP33,750. WLTP Combined fuel consumption is 51.4-45.6 mpg, CO2 is 145-162 g/km, max speed is 150 mph and 0-62 mph takes a claimed 6.8 seconds.
